Cherise

“They can’t withstand escape or re-entry, obviously,” says Hitomi, striding the catwalk. “We rent a skyhook for that, or a recyclable rocket. But once in the vacuum, they’re excellent for interstation transport, lunar trips…”

Cherise leans over the rail. “I just can’t believe origami’s come this far. Or that the astronauts don’t get papercuts!” She laughs; Hitomi doesn’t.

“Would you joke about missing thumbs in a sausage plant?” she asks coldly.

“No–” sputters Cherise. “Of course not–”

“And we don’t joke about papercuts.” Hitomi points down at the factory floor, where a one-armed foreman is directing a complicated fold.